Antero Niittymaki stopped the streaking Atlanta Thrashers – again.
The Philadelphia goalie improved to 11-0 against Atlanta on Sunday night, making 29 saves – 19 in the third period – to help the Flyers end the Thrashers’ five-game winning streak with a 4-3 home victory.
“I really don’t know. I just feel comfortable playing against them,” Niittymaki said. “There’s no magic. Hopefully, it stays that way.”
Niittymaki is one of two active goalies with a perfect record in at least 10 decisions against one team. Detroit’s Chris Osgood is 17-0 against Tampa Bay.
Atlanta coach John Anderson wasn’t overly impressed by Niittymaki, a 7-0 winner over the Thrashers earlier this season.
“He played decent tonight,” Anderson said. “I don’t think he was the difference. I don’t take any stock in that.”
In other NHL games Sunday, it was: San Jose 6, Chicago 5; Carolina 3, Tampa Bay 2 in a shootout; Anaheim 2, Los Angeles 0; and Montreal 3, St. Louis 2 in a shootout.
At Philadelphia, Joffrey Lupul scored the go-ahead goal with 6:17 left, firing a slap shot from the slot between Johan Hedberg’s pads.
nd skated down the ice and made a good move,” Lupul said. “I’ve been struggling a little bit with the puck. I haven’t been getting as many shots and opportunities as I’d like.”
Simon Gagne had a goal and two assists, Mike Knuble had a goal and assist and Kimmo Timonen added a goal in the Flyers’ second straight win and third in four games.
Erik Christensen, Bryan Little and Vyacheslav Kozlov scored for Atlanta. The Thrashers had lost six straight before their five-game streak.
Sharks 6, Blackhawks 5
At Chicago, Devin Setoguchi’s power-play goal with 4:15 left helped San Jose hand the Blackhawks their first home loss in regulation this season.
Dan Boyle scored two power-play goals for the Sharks, who went 4-for-6 with the man advantage. Milan Michalek, Joe Thornton and Jeremy Roenick also connected to help NHL-leading San Jose win its second straight to improve to 9-1-1 in its last 11.
Chicago defensemen Brian Campbell and Cam Barker each had a goal and two assists. The Blackhawks’ Kris Versteeg scored a pair of fluke goals on misplays by San Jose goalie Brian Boucher. Patrick Kane also scored for Chicago, which is 6-1-4 at home.
Hurricanes 3, Lightning 2, SO
At Raleigh, N.C., Tuomo Ruutu and Rod Brind’Amour scored in the shootout and Cam Ward stopped two shots in the tiebreaker to help Carolina spoil Rick Tocchet’s first game as Tampa Bay’s coach.
e a head coach for the first time when Barry Melrose was fired Friday.
Brind’Amour and Wade Brookbank scored in regulation for Carolina. Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis scored for Tampa Bay.
Ducks 2, Kings 0
At Anaheim, Calif., Jonas Hiller made 29 saves for his first NHL shutout, and Corey Perry and defenseman Bret Hedican scored for Anaheim.
It was the Ducks’ second shutout in the last two meetings between the Southern California rivals. The last time they met on Nov. 4 at Staples Center, the Ducks won 1-0 on Chris Pronger’s overtime goal.
Canadiens 3, Blues 2, SO
At St. Louis, Alexei Kovalev scored the lone shootout goal to give Montreal the victory, beating Manny Legace with a high backhander in the third round.
Andrei Kostitsyn and Robert Lang scored in regulation for the Canadiens, and Carey Price stopped 24 shots. Steve Regier scored twice for St. Louis.
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